pat|terned /pæ tə r nd/
1 ADJ Something that is patterned is covered with a pattern or design. □ …a plain carpet with a patterned border. □ [+ with ] …bone china patterned with flowers.
2 V-PASSIVE If something new is patterned on something else that already exists, it is deliberately made so that it has similar features. [mainly AM ] □ [be V -ed + on ] New York City announced a 10-point policy patterned on the federal bill of rights for taxpayers. □ [be V -ed + after ] He says this contract should not be patterned after the Deere pact.
pat|tern|ing /pæ tə r n I ŋ/
1 N‑UNCOUNT Patterning is the forming of fixed ways of behaving or of doing things by constantly repeating something or copying other people. [FORMAL ] □ …social patterning. □ [+ of ] …the patterning of behaviour.
2 N‑UNCOUNT You can refer to lines, spots, or other patterns as patterning . □ …geometric patterning. □ [+ of ] …a jazzy patterning of lights.
pat|ty /pæ ti/ (patties )
1 N‑COUNT A patty is a small, round meat pie. [mainly AM ]
2 N‑COUNT A patty is an amount of minced meat formed into a flat, round shape.
pau|city /pɔː s I ti/ N‑SING If you say that there is a paucity of something, you mean that there is not enough of it. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] Even the film's impressive finale can't hide the first hour's paucity of imagination. □ [+ of ] …the paucity of good British women sprinters.
paunch /pɔː ntʃ/ (paunches ) N‑COUNT If a man has a paunch , he has a fat stomach. □ He finished his dessert and patted his paunch.
paunchy /pɔː ntʃi/ (paunchier , paunchiest ) ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] A man who is paunchy has a fat stomach.
pau|per /pɔː pə r / (paupers ) N‑COUNT A pauper is a very poor person. [FORMAL ] □ He died a pauper and is buried in an unmarked grave.
pause ◆◇◇ /pɔː z/ (pauses , pausing , paused )
1 VERB If you pause while you are doing something, you stop for a short period and then continue. □ [V ] 'It's rather embarrassing,' he began, and paused. □ [V ] On leaving, she paused for a moment at the door. □ [V + for ] He talked for two hours without pausing for breath.
2 N‑COUNT A pause is a short period when you stop doing something before continuing. □ After a pause Alex said sharply: 'I'm sorry if I've upset you'. SYNONYMS pause NOUN 2
delay: They claimed that such a delay wouldn't hurt anyone.
intervaclass="underline" There was a long interval of silence.
hesitation: …the prime minister's hesitation to accept a ceasefire.
pave /pe I v/ (paves , paving , paved )
1 VERB [usu passive] If a road or an area of ground has been paved , it has been covered with flat blocks of stone or concrete, so that it is suitable for walking or driving on. □ [be V -ed] The avenue had never been paved, and deep mud made it impassable in winter. ● paved ADJ □ …a small paved courtyard. [Also + with ]
2 PHRASE If one thing paves the way for another, it creates a situation in which it is possible or more likely that the other thing will happen. [JOURNALISM ] □ The discussions are aimed at paving the way for formal negotiations between the two countries.
pave|ment /pe I vmənt/ (pavements )
1 N‑COUNT A pavement is a path with a hard surface, usually by the side of a road. [BRIT ] □ He was hurrying along the pavement. in AM, use sidewalk 2 N‑COUNT The pavement is the hard surface of a road. [AM ]
pa|vil|ion /pəv I liən/ (pavilions )
1 N‑COUNT A pavilion is a building on the edge of a sports field where players can change their clothes and wash. [BRIT ] □ …the cricket pavilion.
2 N‑COUNT A pavilion is a large temporary structure such as a tent, which is used at outdoor public events. □ …the United States pavilion at the Expo '70 exhibition in Japan.
pav|ing /pe I v I ŋ/ N‑UNCOUNT Paving is flat blocks of stone or concrete covering an area. □ In the centre of the paving stood a statue. □ …concrete paving.
pa v|ing stone (paving stones ) N‑COUNT Paving stones are flat pieces of stone or concrete, usually square in shape, that are put on the ground, for example to make a path. [mainly BRIT ]
pav|lo|va /pævloʊ və/ (pavlovas ) N‑VAR A pavlova is a dessert which consists of a hard base made of egg whites and sugar with fruit and cream on top.
paw /pɔː / (paws , pawing , pawed )
1 N‑COUNT [oft with poss] The paws of an animal such as a cat, dog, or bear are its feet, which have claws for gripping things and soft pads for walking on. □ The kitten was black with white front paws and a white splotch on her chest.
2 N‑COUNT [oft poss N , adj N ] You can describe someone's hand as their paw , especially if it is very large or if they are very clumsy. [mainly HUMOROUS , INFORMAL ] □ He shook Keaton's hand with his big paw.
3 VERB If an animal paws something, it draws its foot over it or down it. □ [V n] Madigan's horse pawed the ground. □ [V + at ] The dogs continued to paw and claw frantically at the chain mesh.